In 1837, Georgia lawmakers authorized a “Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum.” Five years later, the facility opened as the Georgia Lunatic Asylum on the outskirts of the cotton-rich town that served as the antebellum state capital.

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Where Iberian Pig takes its inspiration from all of Spain, Cooks & Soldiers focuses on the Basque region, which gained an international profile during the craze over molecular gastronomy and its first exponent, Ferran Adrià of elBulli.

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Southbound magazine, the newest ancillary title from the publishers of Atlanta magazine, showcases the top travel destinations in the Southeast. We visit idyllic small towns and exciting cities in search of outstanding vacation opportunities.Inside Southbound

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Georgia offers diverse places to see and things to do, from the mountains in North Georgia to the coasts of Savannah and The Golden Isles. Take a tour in your own backyard and visit all that our great state has to offer. Begin your tour

Dining in has its advantages: You can wear what you want, eat when you want, and drink as much as you like. To craft the perfect dinner party but skip dirtying the kitchen, look to these seven purveyors for the best meat, cheese, pasta, wine, and dessert.

Football between the hedges in Athens

What it is: When prospective students tour UGA’s campus, they are paraded past Sanford Stadium and told, “This is the largest classroom on campus; other schools come here and we teach them how to play football.” But for many, Georgia football is more akin to religion than education. They flock to Athens in dresses and blazers, and start to tailgate at dawn. By kickoff, 92,746 people make a sea of red and black, collectively chanting, woofing, and cheering for the Dawgs. The experience can verge on spiritual, what with the camaraderie, the passion, and the whiskey. georgiadogs.com

Why I go: “Going back to campus and walking through and stopping by the tailgates brings back all the memories of when I graduated from the University of Georgia some forty-eight years ago. That’s how long I’ve been a season ticket holder. It’s a special weekend.” —U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Insider tips: Get to Sanford Stadium about two hours early so you can see the Dawg Walk, when the team gets off the buses and walks past the student center into the stadium. Fans in Bulldogs jerseys line both sides of the street to cheer on the players. Be in your seat five minutes before kickoff so that you can hear the lone bugler—perched in the upper deck of the south stands—play the opening notes of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” “The whole stadium goes quiet,” Isakson says.

Where to stay and eat: Face it: You can’t spend a game night in Athens unless you book years in advance, and postgame crowds are so thick you’ll wait hours for a table. For a first-timer, drive over for a day game. Afterward, walk to the edge of town for a beer and burger at Trappeze Pub or a pizza slice at Ted’s Most Best. Then stroll back to your car, after the worst of the gridlock.